Reading mode: Light Dark

It's TICK season in the Northeast US!! READ!!!

Go to last post
J

Jeff Catalina

Leading Member
Messages
596
Reaction score
0
Location
NY, US
I don't think this is entirely off topic, as for many of us, photographing wildlife and birds is a big part of our hobby.

Yesterday I went to a local state park to shoot birds and landscapes with my 20D and gear. After an easy hour of walking and shooting I stopped to set up my tripod and try some more serious stuff ('serious' for me means setting up a tripod, not much more).

Anyway, I happily shot away while standing in some knee-high grass---big mistake. I was wearing shorts----bigger mistake. I did not use any outdoor bug repellent---final mistake.

Guess what? This morning I pulled a deer tick off the inside of my left leg. My fault. Now I have to worry for the next six months or more about developing symptoms of Lyme's Disease. Tomorrow I'm going to the doctor to start on antibiotics, which will, I hope, peg any infection before it takes hold.

All I can say to you folks is don't be stupid (like me) and make sure you dress properly when you go out to shoot in the woods and grassy areas that are frequented by deer---especially White-tailed deer. It's not hard to do; all you need to do is think about protecting exposed areas of the skin and head. Equally important is inspecting yourself after such excursions for any unusual "moles" that were not there before.

Don't learn this lesson the hard way. Make sure you protect yourself from one of summer's worst hazards in the northeast US.

--
Jeff
http://www.pbase.com/jeff_catalina
 
Ticks are a real problem where I live in the northern beaches of Sydney, Oz (you don't have to go bush!). A few years back I got an awful rash over my legs and to cut a long story short, was diagnosed with tick typhus - the same as rocky mountain spotted fever in the US! So if your tick bite doesn't go away after a couple of weeks and it looks a bit angry, and then you get a rash, go straight to your doc!

Cheers
Sheila
Sheila Smart
http://www.pbase.com/sheila

All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice - Elliott Erwitt
 
Sheila Smart said:
Ticks are a real problem where I live in the northern beaches of
Sydney, Oz (you don't have to go bush!). A few years back I got an
awful rash over my legs and to cut a long story short, was
diagnosed with tick typhus - the same as rocky mountain spotted
fever in the US! So if your tick bite doesn't go away after a
couple of weeks and it looks a bit angry, and then you get a rash,
go straight to your doc!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice, Shelia, and I hope you're feeling a bit better now!
:)

--
Jeff
http://www.pbase.com/jeff_catalina
 
I gre up in NJ. I live in NJ.

We're over-run with ticks.

I get bitten at least once a year - often more.

No offense, but I think you're over-reacting a bit. Unless you see a rash, I wouldn't worry too much. Flame away if you like, but I think you're succumbing to media induced hysteria...

GAD
--
Cameras don't take great pictures; people do
 
They've been thick in Minnesota, too. In May, I picked nine off of me after a 10-mile hike... and even though my springer spaniel had tick medication on her, we got more than 25 from her coat. Not much fun...
 
jmoravec said:
They've been thick in Minnesota, too. In May, I picked nine off of
me after a 10-mile hike... and even though my springer spaniel had
tick medication on her, we got more than 25 from her coat. Not
much fun...
Click to expand...
Wow. Nine ticks? How do these guys find their way onto your body....just by brushing up against bushes, plants and trees? Do you use bug spray at all?

--

I know you mean well but please do not embed my images into the forum. Thanks for respecting that.

http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_recent_shots
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/some_favourites
 
I agree completely, I check for ticks regularly here in Northern California and I've pulled a few out of my legs. I've read that pulling them out within 24-48 hours significantly reduces any chance of Lyme disease, so you're probably fine.
Jeff Catalina said:
I don't think this is entirely off topic, as for many of us,
photographing wildlife and birds is a big part of our hobby.

Yesterday I went to a local state park to shoot birds and
landscapes with my 20D and gear. After an easy hour of walking and
shooting I stopped to set up my tripod and try some more serious
stuff ('serious' for me means setting up a tripod, not much more).

Anyway, I happily shot away while standing in some knee-high
grass---big mistake. I was wearing shorts----bigger mistake. I did
not use any outdoor bug repellent---final mistake.

Guess what? This morning I pulled a deer tick off the inside of my
left leg. My fault. Now I have to worry for the next six months or
more about developing symptoms of Lyme's Disease. Tomorrow I'm
going to the doctor to start on antibiotics, which will, I hope,
peg any infection before it takes hold.

All I can say to you folks is don't be stupid (like me) and make
sure you dress properly when you go out to shoot in the woods and
grassy areas that are frequented by deer---especially White-tailed
deer. It's not hard to do; all you need to do is think about
protecting exposed areas of the skin and head. Equally important is
inspecting yourself after such excursions for any unusual "moles"
that were not there before.

Don't learn this lesson the hard way. Make sure you protect
yourself from one of summer's worst hazards in the northeast US.

--
Jeff
http://www.pbase.com/jeff_catalina
Click to expand...
--
Wildlife galleries
http://www.pbase.com/zeiler/
 
I put rubbing alcohol or some other toxin on it, this way it will pull it's self out and you don't have to worry about breaking off it's head.
BTW, Good post/Reminder
Stevon
 
St. Paul Mn.
I had been out taking pics. After being home for a few hours, my wife sees
something on the back of my leg. It's a tick, a full sized, or dog tick.
So she gets the tweezers, and I say, "Wait, I'll get the camera."
So I get a pic of the little bugger having a snack.



Then my wife, after about 6 tries, pulled the tick off



After a couple of days, we could see that it was infected. So I go to the
doctors office, get an antibiotic. Then the Dr draws a line around the area
and says the area gets bigger, to come back.



Well that was 2 weeks ago, the area has scabbed over, but I'm not sure I
can say that it's better. The scab is about the size of a dime.
Take the tick threat seriously.

--
My Galleries
http://www.pbase.com/davev
Sony 717, Canon S1 IS, Canon D Rebel
 
You probably pulled the tick's body out and left the tiny head under your skin? Either that or maybe you are allergic?

Being a hiker/photographer while living in Oregon and California, I've got to know ticks very well. I've had 5 or 6 myself and my dogs get them almost every time we go out this time of year. Some say use baby oil, others say alcohol, but soak them so they can't breathe and they will loosen up their hold. I flood them with baby oil (or soap if I don't have anything else), give them a minte or two, then pull them out with small needle nose pliers. Works every time for me.

Paul
 
I got one a few weeks ago in Northern california and pulled it out of my chest within a few hours
I still have a red mark
Nasty, very nasty
Rob
 
on the tick and then pull. Advise given by my vet.

--
Eugene

Canon is the best when it is working. Sigma is the same way now.

 
with a lighter and giving the little critter a hot seat? Or lay the hot iron on thier back. Talk about motivation! They back right on out in a hurry.

No worries about leaving the head behind as they take that with them and the whole process takes less than a minute.

Just pick your 'surgeon' carefully. If you've been camping and drinking, pick the most sober 'surgeon' you can find! ;-)

Brian
 
Thanks Jeff.

I'd not be cautious of ticks except for the fact that in the past few years, two neighbourbood children were treated for lyme disease and a young man (about 20) in a nearby town died from a deer tick byte. One of the children was suffering considerably for a few months. My daughter watched a PBS program about deer ticks and lyme disease and she suggested to my neighbour that this may be a concern. Indeed this was the solution. Following proper diagnosis and treatment, she recovered within a short time. Many doctors are not familiar with lyme disease and its symptoms.

A search of google for 'lyme disease' should give you preventative measures and other useful info regarding the tick and disease.

Paul
http://www.iaw.com/~pturton/
 
Dave, how big is a tick? The size of a fly, or the size of a mosquito? I was bitten by a tick or ticks in Pennsylvania, except at the time I did not understand it was tick bite. My arms had several swollen and red areas, the size of about two to three inches in diameter. I had flu like symtoms and my finger joints became like having arthritis. I did not know what caused it and I did not see the doctor. How stupid was I? It went away afgter a while.
--
newby
 
We've had very good luck with one of these items that was recommended by our vet as well:



Good product; kind of lame website here: http://www.tickedoff.com
--
M
Experienced photographer but inexperienced DIGITAL Photographer!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top